Halloween is such an interesting holiday. You can learn so much about a person by how he or she dresses for Halloween.

In today’s world, most people just slip into something and run out the door. They don’t give a second thought as to what they’re wearing. On Halloween, everything changes. Suddenly, people become aware of clothing. They notice how others are dressed. They comment on what their peers are wearing.

On Oct. 31, clothing is not just clothing — it is art. On the first, however, everything changes back. People become themselves again; clothing is simply fabric.

The whole process, though enlightening, is incredibly depressing. Observing Halloween behavior is like watching the world re-enact "Cinderella." For one night, people are themselves; come daylight, they retreat back into their image. My question is: why?

Why must Halloween be the only day of the year dress is more than coverage? Imagine if people put as much thought into their daily wear as they put into their costumes . . .

On Halloween, people are incredibly aware of the character they portray. From an early age, children discover that the costume they choose represents something. Dressing as a superhero reveals a desire to emulate courage and strength. Wearing a ball gown shows femininity.

If we can distinguish the meaning behind costume, why can’t people decipher the significance of everyday dress? Most people can understand the implications of costume with perfect ease; when it comes to daily wear, though, many remain aloof.

Though most do not realize it, every day is Halloween; everything is costume. When someone selects her outfit for the day, she chooses the image she presents to the world. When you get dressed in the morning, you become a character. Whether or not this character is an accurate representation of you, is your decision. Are you feeling nervous? Do you shield your fear from others (selecting a blood-red sheath) or do you allow apprehension to engulf you (attempting to hide in an ill-fitting suit)?

Halloween allows people to feel safe in their wardrobe decisions. Knowing that everything goes on the 31st gives people the confidence to pull off outfits that they could never wear on any other day.

I’ve always believed the majority of people do want to experiment with fashion. There is something in everyone that wants to take style risks; fear of judgment, however, represses us. Halloween provides people the perfect opportunity for experimentation.

When better, to test out a new look, than on a day when no one can say anything? Immediately after Halloween, the safety of knowing no one can comment vanishes. Suddenly, people are subject to critique; poise melts away, and once again, they’ve retreated into their image.

Halloween is incredibly entertaining. It is the one day a year when society at-large awakens to the meaning of dress. On the 31st, however, clothing-consciousness disappears, and people recoil into style-ignorance. Dress is simply cloth again. What people should remember is that every day is an act, and all clothing is costume. With a little thought, every outfit you choose can have the same life and enthusiasm as your Halloween-wear.